Steering-gear.



G. R, GATES. STEERING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 4, 1913.

1,1 1 1,534. I Patented Sept.22,1914.

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Q V tfweooeo THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. c

1 To all whom it may concern:

' clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, 1 such. as will enable others skilled in the art UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE E. GATES, 033121.011, KANSAS.

STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Be it known that I, GEoRoE R. -GATES, a

a citizen of the United states, residing at Be- -loit, in the county of Mitchell, State of;

Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gears; and I do hereby declare the following to be full,

towhich it. appertains to make and use the samew, I

This invention relates to steering gears, andhas for an object to provide a steering gear that may be operated through, the instrumentality of foot pedals.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steering'mechanism including oppositelymovable; ratchet operated gears which have operative connections with-the dirigible ground wheel of avehicle.

A. still further object is to provide a device of this character that may be inexpensively constructedand will be devoid of complicated parts. I

WVith the above objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts herein after fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may section on theline H Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line c o Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts, 10 designates the frame of a vehicle, and 11 thedirigible ground wheel thereof, the same being carried on a standard 12 that is journaled in a bearing 13 on the frame, the standard being equipped at the upper end with a bevel gear 14.

In carrying out my invention, a shaft 15 is journaled transverselyof the frame in bearings 16 carried by the frame, there being spaced opposing bevel gears 17 and 18 loose upon this shaft, and there being abevel pinion 19 meshing with both of these gears, such pinion being carried on a shaft 20 that normally held released when the related a lever. is in upright position by means of a horizontal release pin 31 that is carried on a support32 of any suitable character, these release pins passing underneath the free ends of the pawls when the pedals return to up: right position and lift the pawls from engagement with their respective ratchet wheels, the springs 29 then serving to hold the pedals upright and prevent turning of the dirigible ground wheel.

In operation suppose that it is desired to swing the machine around a right turn. The operator pushes forwardly the right pedal 24 with his right foot whereby the right ratchet gear 18is rotated forwardly with a resultant swinging of the dirigible Wheel 11 to the left to swing the vehicle to the right, the left gear 17 meanwhile rotating rearwardly under its raised pawl as shown bythe arrow heads in full lines in Figs. 5 and 6. To straighten out the machine after it has swung around a turn, the operator pushes the left pedal forwardl with his left foot whereby the left gear 1 is rotated forwardly with a resultant swinging of the dirigible wheel to the right, the right gear 18' meanwhile rotating rearwardly'under its raised pawl 26, these positions being shown by arrow heads in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6. To swing the vehicle around a left turn the operation above described for swinging the vehicle around a right turn in reversed. Should the operator desire to turn a square corner, the pedal which he is operating maybe pulled back and given a second stroke to facilitate sufficient swinging of the ground wheel to make the turn.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive steering mechanism that is effective in operation and is devoid of complicated parts.

What is claimed, is p 1. The combination with a dirigible Patented Sept. 22, 1914. Application filed October 4, 1913. Serial N 0. 793,441. '7 i is journaled. longitudinally ofthe frame in l ground Wheel, of means for swinging the ground Wheel to make a turn including a shaft, opposed bevel gears on said shaft having peripheral ratchet teeth, a bevel.

pinion meshing with both gears and having an operative connection with said ground wheel, a pair of foot pedals pivoted on said shaft, springs normally holding said pedals in upright position, and releasable gravity pawls' 'on said pedals operatively engaging the ratchet teeth of said gears. 2. 1 The combination with a dirigible ground wheel, of means for steering the ground wheel including a frame, a transverse shaft on said frame, opposed bevel gears on said shafteach having peripheral ratchet teeth, a bevel pinion meshing with.

both gears and having an operative connectiongwith said ground wheel, a pair of foot pedals pivoted on said shaft, opposed springs for each pedal connected to said.

pins adapted to project underneath and raise both pawls when the pedals are in vertical position.

1 3. In combination with a dirigible ground wheel, means for steering the ground wheel comprising a frame, a transverse shaft in said frame, opposed bevel gears on said shaft each having peripheral ratchet teeth, a bevel pinion meshing with both gears and having an operative connection with said ground wheel,'a pair of foot pedals lre-vol-uble upon said shaft,

L. A. MERGEN, T. P. Dorms.

, eerie: this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the flomnfla sloner of 1mm.

Washington, D. 0.

affix my signa- '1 

